Trauma Treatment

Addiction and trauma treatment for long-term recovery

Trauma comes from the Latin word meaning “wounded.” When it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, many people have experienced childhood trauma or other traumatic events in life which have left them “wounded” in ways that negatively impact them today. Such trauma can cause symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, mood instability, hyper-arousal, and unresolved fear and shame.

People impacted by trauma may have difficulty coping with daily life. They may also be more susceptible to repeated patterns of self-harm such as medicating with drugs and alcohol to gain relief. The more a person uses, the worse the disease progresses and the harder the consequences in life.

Treating trauma as a root cause of drug or alcohol addiction

Drug and alcohol addiction treatment begins with assessing whether there is underlying trauma. If trauma does exist in a patient’s past, we can then look at its connection to addictive behavior. We can also address a patient’s current needs related to the trauma.

At Mirmont Treatment Center our clinical team is trauma-competent meaning every person here is highly trained in understanding trauma and its connection to addictive disorder while also being skilled in treating trauma in a safe and therapeutic way. Patients are able to work at group and individual levels to identify and process uncomfortable feelings related to trauma while developing healthy skills for coping with emotional pain and distress. Ultimately, patients gain a new perspective and begin to heal from past events, which increases the overall experience of recovery.

We also offer the VIPER program, first responder addiction treatment, PTSD rehab, group therapy and support for police/law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs. This program helps first responders recover from addiction brought on by traumatic experiences that often occur in the line of duty.